Tillerson out at State Department – White House Already Has a Replacement: Report

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is reportedly about to be forced out of the Trump administration, ending months of tensions between him and President Donald Trump.

The White House is working on a plan to force out Tillerson and replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, according to The New York Times, which cited senior administration officials.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas would then replace Pompeo as the head of the CIA. Cotton is believed to be receptive to the idea and has reportedly signaled that if offered the job, he would accept it.

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The Times said White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has taken the lead on the plan and discussed it with other administration officials. Tillerson could be ousted as soon as the end of the year, or soon after.

“It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Trump has given final approval to the plan,” The Times reported, “but he has been said to have soured on Mr. Tillerson and (Kelly) is ready to make a change at the State Department.”

“I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man,” Trump tweeted in October. “Save your energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!”

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